This is a redo of a previous blog I wrote about the security issues inside Afghanistan. I initially used personal accounts to paint a picture of the problems I witnessed during my military tour in 2005. However, with President Trump’s most recent speech laying out a potential shift in American Afghan policy, I felt compelled to update the article reflecting on his words and what is being said “in-between the lines.”

Here we go…

By the end of 2004, the conflict in Afghanistan was already three years old. I had just arrived in the country to start a six-month tour running the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) program …the military plan to counter road side bombs. The program was relatively new at the time and still experiencing some early challenges. In fact, it only took three days before I witnessed the first casualties from an IED…two U.S. Special Forces soldiers lost their lives and one seriously injured in the Konar province along the Pakistan border.

Konar was the most dangerous province in the country and had a reputation for prolific IED strikes, we called it “IED alley.” Losing two Americans had an immediate effect on me…I was determined to make sure this did not happen again. So, I gathered every piece of intelligence I could and researched every aspect of the enemy. I studied their habits, their procedures, and their lifestyles but mostly, their IED tactics. Within weeks I knew everything about the bad guys. Who they were, their families, their friends, how they made IEDs, and where they were produced. But, more importantly, their habits and how to exploit their weaknesses.

I had everything I needed to defeat the threat. The only problem was the enemy was in Pakistan.

Much has been written on North Korea and its infamous leader Kim Jong-un. He has proven to be an unstable, brutal and erratic dictator whose pension for control, power, and attention could be enough to push him over the nuclear weapon’s edge. The problem is a nuclear attack by North Korea, on anyone, would be a disastrous event that would involve more than just North Korea and their target, it would affect the whole region and drag much of the world into a conflict…literally, a global event.

Understanding this, how do we curb the North Korean leader’s ambitions? In what manner do we convince a young, inexperienced, power hungry, and closed-minded narcissist to stop? Do we encourage him, pamper him, or sanction him into submission? Or is it better to threaten him?

Well, we do have President Trump. A new face to geopolitics and handling rogue nations. Yet, Trump’s most recent rhetoric seems cartoonish in nature, much like we hear from other closed and oppressive societies…aka Iran, Venezuela, or Cuba…not a sophisticated U.S. Further, if you ask any seasoned diplomat they would say Trump’s rhetoric is downright dangerous…but is it?

Is tough rhetoric what Kim Jong-un needs? A language he understands? A threat that is straight forward and more importantly from an American president whose history of “what he says” is “what he does.” Maybe this is just what the doctor ordered? In other words, “fight fire with fire.”

And, more importantly, is there more to this tough rhetoric and is it really meant for someone else?

As highlighted in the earlier post, great leaders possess a set of traits or characteristics that separate them from the pack. But traits alone do not set a course, they merely describe a leader. To really capture the hearts and minds, one must have a sound vision where its success is achievable and rewardable.

However, in order to make this a reality, it requires something more than traits, something fundamentally different. It requires a set of steps or pattern that consistently produces and sustains a path.

To put it differently, delivering great leadership demands a method or approach that can take a vision and make it an actionable movement…

I received some excellent inputs on my previous blog titled, “Great Leadership.” Because of this feedback, I decided to break up the essay into two parts to better convey its value.

This blog is part one of a two-part essay on Great Leadership. I will first discuss what it takes to be a great leader and follow up with an essay on what it takes to deliver Great Leadership.

Great leaders are rare…

It doesn’t mean that people are not leading or that they are not successful – success is achieved in many ways and at numerous levels. But does their leadership transform? Do they move concepts and people to unimaginable heights? Do they challenge the status quo? And do they rule the future rather than the future ruling them?

Great leaders do not just manage, direct or command, they motivate people to act, excite them to a cause and inspire them to believe. They are game-changers that transcend reward or measure. They unite ideas and people and instill in them a belief in something more than themselves, something worth following.

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This is a redo of a previous blog I wrote about the security issues inside Afghanistan. I initially used personal accounts to paint a picture of the problems I witnessed during my military tour in 2005. However, with President Trump’s most recent speech laying out a potential shift in American Afghan policy, I felt compelled to […]